Victoria Ng (third from left), English Teacher from My First Skool at Blk 222C Bedok North Drive, and Nur Nazhifah (fourth from left), Infant Care Teacher from My First Skool at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio received The Leading Foundation Teacher Award on 17 November.
Two months ago, Victoria Ng, English Teacher from My First Skool (MFS) at Blk 222C Bedok North Drive tasked the children in her class with building a structure that could withstand harsh weather conditions. As she observed the children hard at work, she anticipated that the children would construct a shelter to protect their creation. To her surprise, the children added two figurines to protect their figurines instead. Upon prodding, they told her they had constructed two Buddha statues to protect the building from any harm.
The children could come up with this unconventional solution because of Victoria’s unique teaching style. Deeply rooted in the ‘Mimamoru’ approach, a Japanese term meaning ‘watch and wait’, Victoria’s teaching style cultivates active learners who take initiative for their own learning by making decisions, applying strategies, and thinking out of the box to solve problems by themselves.
For her commitment to creating active, confident, and empathetic learners, Victoria received the Leading Foundation Teacher Award (LFTA) on 17 November 2023.
Established in 2014, the LFTA honours excellence in early childhood and special needs education in Singapore. All nominations for the LFTA are assessed by a panel of experts from the National Institute of Education (NIE), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore).
Another early childhood educator, Nur Nazhifah, Infant Care Teacher from MFS at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio, was also awarded the LFTA.
A strong proponent of parent-teacher partnership, Nazhifah provides guidance and support to parents so that their children can thrive. When the centre worked with a first-time parent whose son held his breath whenever he was upset, Nazhifah implemented strategies to help the child manage his emotions and consistently updated his parents on strategies that worked in class. Nazhifah also followed up with parents on the strategies they could implement at home and because of her steadfast support, the child eventually stopped this habit.
As an Infant Care Teacher, Nazhifah’s commitment extends beyond the immediate care of infants. She actively monitors their well-being, promptly addressing any health concerns and collaborates with parents and centre leaders to facilitate their progress. Her proactive approach is evident in the development of a transition booklet and plan, ensuring a smooth progression for infants to Playgroup.
Additionally, she ensures that no child is deprived of essential needs, stepping up to help parents apply for aid, be it through KidSTART or NTUC First Campus’s charity fund Bright Horizons Fund.
For the indelible impact her tireless work has left on the lives of the children and families that she serves, Nazhifah was awarded the LFTA.
Picture: Channel NewsAsia
A Channel NewsAsia documentary delving into whether inequality is exacerbated in Singapore schools featured NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) Child Support Model, and how it closes the gap by enabling children from disadvantaged backgrounds to benefit from a quality preschool education.
Rita Lim, Manager of Learning Support at NFC’s Child Support Services Department shared how the Child Enabling Executives support the financially underprivileged through various programmes and resources. She added that NFC offers language learning and numeracy support to children, to enable them to catch up with their peers in academic development. The programme also featured one of NFC’s beneficiaries Mdm Siti Muhairah Binte Haizen, who shared how her three children benefited from preschool education at NFC’s preschools.
View the CNA Documentary below. (For the feature on NFC, please refer to time code: 15:49-17:11.)
NTUC First Campus (NFC) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)s with three overseas universities to provide their students with internship and employment opportunities as Chinese Language teachers at NFC’s preschools. NFC’s overseas collaborations with universities augment its pool of teachers hired locally and overseas.
The three universities, based in Taiwan, are National Pingtung University (國立屏東大學), Hungkuang University (弘光科技大学) and Shu-Te University (樹德科技大學).
“As a leader in Singapore’s early childhood care and education, NTUC First Campus places a strong focus on building effective bilingualism and inculcating a love for learning Mother Tongue. Our innovative Mother Tongue curriculum has won us many awards. These latest collaborations with three esteemed universities are further testament to our continuing commitment to delivering high-quality Mother Tongue Language education,” Dr Connie Lum, NFC’s Director of Mother Tongue Languages Curriculum said.
“NTUC First Campus collaborates with overseas universities to create attachment or internship opportunities in our preschools for overseas teaching talent. By tapping on talent beyond Singapore, we ensure a steady pool of highly trained and passionate teachers to support our vision of enabling every child to realise their best potential and in creating bright futures for them,” said Simon Ong, NFC’s Chief Human Resource Officer.
“We are happy to receive interns from overseas universities at My First Skool as they add diversity and strengthen our teaching team through their experiences, and help build a culture of learning and collaboration,” said Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of My First Skool (MFS). MFS has 155 preschool centres in Singapore.
President Robert Chen from National Pingtung University looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with NFC in the future. “Education is the foundation of the university, and exporting quality education is equally important, so that the teaching quality of the University’s students and teachers can be acknowledged,” he said.
“This collaboration with NTUC First Campus is of great significance to students’ overseas internships, employment, and interactive exchanges in the field of education and childcare, as it enables students to gain practical experience in theory and practice during the stints at NTUC First Campus’s preschools,” said Dr Lee Shu-Hui, Vice Dean of Shu-Te University. Shu-Te University’s Department of Early Childhood Education nurtures kindergarten teachers, family education professionals, and early intervention and education professionals. The department also manages six government-commissioned public education and childcare service agencies and two home-based childcare service centres.
Since 2011, Hungkuang University has collaborated with NFC to enable Taiwanese students to intern and work at NFC’s preschool centres. “Since 2011, 50 alumni have interned or worked at NFC’s preschools, promoting the development of bilingualism and facilitating exchange of experiences,” said Dr Pan Shih-Tsun, Vice President of Hungkuang University. Currently, there are 16 Hungkuang University alumni who are part of NFC’s teaching staff, with five serving as lead teachers. Alumna Lim Wen Zhi who works as a Chinese Teacher at My First Skool at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio also received various teaching awards for her outstanding performance in teaching the Mother Tongue Language.
Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, pose with award recipients at the
Picture: BERITA Mediacorp
The government is committed to giving every child a good start in life, regardless of their background, and so is NTUC First Campus. My First Skool, operated by NTUC First Campus, was featured in the first part of BERITAmediacorp’s preschool series.
Preparing children for primary school and beyond
The programme started with a feature on Madam Fatma Osman who moved her son Fatih from a private preschool to MFS at Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) to better prepare him for life in primary school.
“We choose a preschool that focuses on the Malay/Islamic community, and it is crucial because they teach the Malay language. But we still prioritize a diverse environment,” shared Cik Fatma. She also shared how pleased she was with MFS’s teaching resources and environment, and the experience of its teachers.
It is clear that besides a suitable environment, preschool teachers who support children’s curiosity are crucial. This ensures that the quality of learning offered is equal to or even better than what private centers offer. “We have curriculum and pedagogy experts who specialise in this. They will think about how we can strengthen our curriculum. And of course, in the center itself, as you can see at Wisma Geylang Serai, you will see that there are always special features such as heritage and Malay cultural elements,” said Ms Thian Ai Ling, the Director of My First Skool. Ms Thian also shared that NFC’s teachers regularly undergo training to develop necessary skills to be effective teachers.
Offering various assistance programmes to ensure no child is left behind
“For children who may come from families in greater need, whether they are low-income families or their families are facing challenges due to family situations, My First Skool works with various agencies, not just the government to provide support. Sometimes we collaborate with social workers,” explained Ms Thian.
As a major operator, NTUC First Campus fosters inclusivity and ensures that early childhood care and education is accessible to all. Therefore, children from low-income families are given priority admission to My First Skool preschool centers.
The NFC Charity Fund, Bright Horizons Fund, also provides additional financial and social support to families, enabling their children to integrate well with their peers and attend preschool regularly.
These initiatives allow NFC to continue its mission of creating a bright future for every child and their families.
News Coverage
Berita Mediacorp Online (29 Jan 2023)
Nur Afifah Rakif (middle), Deputy Centre Lead at My First Skool, posing alongside her colleagues.
Nur Afifah Rakif, Deputy Centre Lead at My First Skool (MFS), who is currently undertaking a Bachelor in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Education Leadership under the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Work-Study Degree programme was put in the spotlight this week.
Afifah’s determination to upskill herself was mentioned in Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s speech at the debate on the President’s Address in Parliament on April 17 and Straits Times also featured her in an article on April 25. Highlighting that learning must be a continuous journey throughout one’s lifetime, Mr Wong said Afifah exemplifies the spirit of lifelong learning and the value of reskilling and upskilling in pursuing one’s passions.
Afifah shared that working in the early childhood education sector motivates her to upskill and be a better teacher, due to the impact of the work she does. “I see it as giving back to the community and playing a part in shaping the future, as working with young learners will have an impact on Singapore’s future generation,” she shared.
She added that upskilling has given her the opportunity to understand herself better and figure out her strengths and areas to work on. “I think we shouldn’t be scared to venture out and do something new. There is no age limit to chasing our dreams. If you want to upskill yourself, it’s never too late,” said Afifah.
Children from My First Skool perform the My First Skool gratitude song through a music video
During this year’s May Day rally organised by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), preschool children from My First Skool (MFS) performed a gratitude song titled “Thank You, Everyone” through a music video. In addition to thanking everyone who contributed to building Singapore, the children also expressed their gratitude to their parents, teachers, and friends. Everyday heroes such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, doctors, nurses, and preschool cooks were also recognised for their effort through the song.
The approximately 2 minute and 20 second-long music video, which features the children singing”Thank You” in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil, was specially produced by MFS and co-written by Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of MFS.
The song aims to instil gratitude in MFS children, a value critical in bolstering their social awareness and ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals so they become empathetic and responsible beings.
Watch MFS children perform the original gratitude song here.
Lianhe Zaobao Online (2 May 2023)
Lianhe Zaobao Print (2 May 2023): PDF below
Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development (in the middle), engages 4-year-old Evelyn Lai (far left, first row) in an activity sorting colours, alongside Ms Vishaalini Vasanthanathan, Development Support Specialist, Child Support Services Department, NTUC First Campus (far left, second row), and Oblena Angela Mari Zulueta, English Teacher, My First Skool at 49 Rivervale Crescent (far right, second row).
NTUC First Campus (NFC) has launched a new in-classroom Development Support Specialist (DSS) Programme designed to enhance inclusivity for preschool children with developmental needs.
With more young children being diagnosed with developmental delays, the DSS Programme aims to provide the necessary support and resources to help teachers better integrate children who require medium levels of developmental support into classrooms effectively.
This innovative programme is focused on children from Playgroup to Kindergarten 2 (18 months to 6 years old) requiring medium level of early intervention (EI) support. It includes those currently attending the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), those on EIPIC waitlist, as well as those who have yet to be formally diagnosed. For the last group, the DSS will also promote increased family involvement and offer guidance on obtaining a diagnosis when needed.
The Programme involves skilled Development Support Specialists (DSS) working closely with teachers during classroom lessons. These professionals offer hands-on help, making sure children get the support they need to succeed in preschool, while also guiding teachers to improve their classroom management.
Teachers with children requiring medium level of EI support will discuss these children’s profiles with the DSS. The DSS will then join the class to support and guide the teacher by demonstrating how to engage the child. Together, they will create a tailored strategy to address each child’s unique learning requirements.
The Programme commenced in January 2023 as a three-year pilot. It currently supports 60 children and 50 educators across eight My First Skool (MFS) centres. MFS is a leading preschool under NFC.
Recognising the importance of equipping educators with the right skills, NFC will also provide structured training for all MFS teachers. This training will focus on managing social-emotional needs and addressing behavioural concerns of children with learning challenges. It aims to empower teachers to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for all students.
Upon completion of the pilot phase, NFC will evaluate the programme’s effectiveness and consider expanding the initiative to more of its preschools.
“NTUC First Campus’s DSS Programme reflects our organisation’s commitment to fostering an inclusive preschool, and is our latest initiative aimed at enabling bright futures for every child. By providing tailored support for children with developmental needs as early as possible, and equipping teachers with the necessary skills, we hope to create a more inclusive learning environment that benefits all children,” said Ms Louisa Chng, NFC’s Chief Child Support Officer.
“I am heartened to see that NTUC First Campus shares our vision to give every child a good start in life, and thus, we see that NTUC First Campus has initiated the Development Support Specialist Programme. Besides supporting children with developmental needs, this programme creates opportunities for typically developing children to build their social skills as well as foster mutual understanding, acceptance of diversity and empathy towards others from a young age. I am confident that this will enable better learning outcomes for all our children. Together, let us make our preschools more inclusive and take the important steps towards making our society kinder, more gracious, and more inclusive,” said Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development.
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Children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub distribute stalks of roses and handwritten cards to staff at FairPrice Xtra Nex Mall alongside Mr Seah Kian Peng (third from left), Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC.
12 children from My First Skool (MFS) at Braddell Heights Community Hub distributed flowers, chocolates and handwritten thank-you cards to workers in the Serangoon neighbourhood on April 27 as part of a Labour Day initiative focusing on building gratitude in young children.
Together with Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC, the children presented their token of appreciation to retail staff at NEX, cashiers at NTUC Fairprice, bus drivers at the bus interchange at NEX and staff at NTUC Health Senior Day Care (Serangoon Central) and NTUC Health Rehab and Physiotherapy (Serangoon Central).
For the past week, the teachers have been teaching the children about the origins of Labour Day, and the various types of workers in Singapore. A total of 250 children across four MFS preschool centres designed the thank you cards that were distributed.
Children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub distribute stalks of roses and handwritten cards to bus drivers at Serangoon bus interchange alongside Mr Seah Kian Peng (fifth from left), Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC.
“Through this Labour Day initiative, our children at My First Skool get to learn about the various people and occupations around them who make their lives easy, and they get to interact with them as well. We aim to instil core foundational skills like relational skills in our children through this effort,” said Thian Ai Ling, General Manager, My First Skool.
Umar Bin Muhammad Firdaus, a Kindergarten 2 child at My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub shared that he chose to thank policemen for their hard work. “In my thank you card, I wrote ‘Thank you for working hard for us!’ to the police because they work so hard to catch the bad guys!”
Claris Lim from NTUC Health, a recipient of the little gifts from the children, expressed her delight at the gesture. “I am quite surprised and excited to have received the token of appreciation from the children of My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub. I never expected to receive a token from them, it’s my first time in my working life.”
Straits Times Print (1 May 2023): PDF below
Berita Harian Print (28 April 2023): PDF below
Berita Harian Online (28 April 2023)
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Teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning on July 8.
From 220 entries, prizes for the top three entries and seven commendations were awarded. Of these ten winners, five were from MFS.
This is a list of winners from MFS:
1. First Prize – ‘City of Happiness’ – Xie Yingying, My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive
2. Second Prize – ‘The Snail and the Whale’ – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan and Huang Xiaozhi, My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road
3. Commendation Award – ‘The Time Travel of Bookworm Hero’ – Xia Yuejing, Song Yoke Fong and Cheng Sisi, My First Skool at Blk 507A Wellington Circle
4. Commendation Award – ‘All the best, Little Rabbit!’ – Zhang Ge, My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub
5. Commendation Award – ‘Rainbow-coloured Flower’ – Kong Mei, Peh Peng Peng and Tian Lili, My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link
Xie Yingying from My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize for her storytelling aid titled ‘City of Happiness’. She is a two-time champion of the Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
The project ‘City of Happiness’ by Xie Yingying from MFS at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize. As she was once a graphic designer, Yingying incorporates art into teaching by creating children’s original picture books and designing innovative teaching aids with local elements. Inspired by her daily interactions with children, she designs original Chinese language storybooks as teaching materials. Using her original picture book ‘Red Strawberries, Green Strawberries’ as the theme, she crafted a four-layer “story stage” depicting the ‘City of Happiness’ using eco-friendly materials. The three-dimensional props she designed, such as flowers, trees, animals, insects, and local landmarks, are full of childlike and fantastical colours, with a fusion of Peranakan style. She also composed nursery rhymes to accompany the teaching aid, allowing young children to play and sing along while acquiring Chinese vocabulary.
“I hope to encourage children to care for one another, be grateful for their current happy lives, and strive to create a better home through stories,” Yingying said. She also won first prize in this competition in 2021.
Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road were awarded the second prize for their storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Big Whale’.
The team behind the second prize – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from MFS at Blk 487 Segar Road – created a storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Whale’. Children can arrange various marine creatures made of clay according to the plot in the book, and they can also listen to the correct pronunciation of vocabulary through a recording device and practise their pronunciation repeatedly.
1. (9 July 2023) Lianhe Zaobao Print
2. (9 July 2023) Lianhe Zaobao Online
3. (8 July 2023) Channel 8 News
4. (8 July 2023) Capital 958FM
故事教具制作赛二度夺冠-华文幼教融合本土特色画绘本教材-Lianhe-Zaobao-9-July-2023-Page-5
Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) My First Skool (MFS) clinched both first and second prizes out of 235 entries at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition on July 22. The team from MFS at Blk 82 Circuit Road was awarded first prize for their lively performance and catchy melody as part of their item titled ‘Reading Corner’.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Gao Meng, Chinese Lead Teacher at the centre, said that she loves to share interesting points from books with the children, who also find a lot of joy during the reading sessions. She sought inspiration from the reading corner, combining the highlights from all the books she read, for the nursery rhyme that she penned.
The team from MFS at 6 New Punggol Road received the second prize for their item ‘Shadow Friends’. During their performance, the children and teachers amazed the audience with various colourful shadows in a dark environment. Chinese teacher Zhou Yitong said that through regular interactions with the children, she noticed their interest in light and shadow when they went outdoors. “So we combined the children’s love for shadows and brought the play of light and shadow onto the stage,” she said.
Dr Connie Lum, Director of Mother Tongue Language Curriculum and Professional Development at NFC, who was one of the judges at the competition, said, “The performances this year are innovative, and the quality of nursery rhymes has also improved. In the past, we had to propose amendments to the nursery rhymes before they were presented. I hope to see more breakthroughs in the future, allowing children of different ages to perform nursery rhymes together.”
News Coverage
Lianhe Zaobao Online (22 July 2023)
Lianhe Zaobao Print (23 July 2023): PDF
